An annoying day at the 'gun' shop...

[Wedge]

So we were out of town and visiting some family and I wanted to go to Gander Mountain and take a peak at a couple of different handguns.

I walked up to the counter and was greeted by a very enthusiastic young man. I am not very old and I can call him a young man. My guess is that he was 21 since he said he owned a handgun. Every time he got a gun out or put it back he covered me with the muzzle. Then he starts trying to act all cool by dropping the mag, racking the slide, letting the slide slam closed, slamming the mag back in, dropping the mag out and handing the gun to me barrel first. Argg. That was just aggrevating but is par for the course at a crappy gun store like Gander Mountain.

From an aggravating standpoint the worst thing he did was start questioning my caliber choice. "9mm ain't good for nothing you should get a Glock 22 in .40." Why would you go and do that if you were going to try and sell me a gun? Obviously I have made up my mind that I would rather have a 9mm that is why I asked to look at the XD9 and the G19. I told him, "Dude I already own a .45 I want a 9mm". Then he starts trying to sound all bad going on about his .38 special and how if he was going to get another pistol he would get a Glock 22, cause a full size gun is so much better and just as easy to carry around...blah blah blah.

I can deal with the sloppy gun handling to an extent. I can deal with a little bit of know-it-allness. What I can't deal with is some dude behind the counter criticizing what I want to buy.

 

[Baba Louie]

I tend to treat other people the same way they treat me stopping only when they enter the "rude" category. Then I ask to speak to their manager. Still and all, doesn't it suck when someone like that pulls that kind of malarky?
I've thought of many come-backs to his comments but would have to go with the one I read from Tamara a while back... "If it sux so bad why do you have one on display?" (or words to that effect)
Then again, if I was just looking, that's one thing. If I had cash in pocket ready to buy, that's another.

 

[41mag]

41mag says Gander Mountain =

 

[whm1974]

I can deal with the sloppy gun handling to an extent. I can deal with a little bit of know-it-allness. What I can't deal with is some dude behind the counter criticizing what I want to buy.

Go elsewhere. As far as 9mm goes isn't that a little cheaper to shoot then .45 ACP?

Bill Meadows

 

[sturmruger]

I would probably handled it allot worse then you did. Stupid gun handling always angers me. What makes me even more upset is some stupid 21 year old kid that only has 1 gun!!! I had more guns then that when I was 13. How is he supposed to be some super expert??

 

[P95Carry]

''Salesman''????? Doofus more like. Wonder why these spotty dorks don't take lessons on selling techniques, instead of havin themselves an ego trip.

Man, am I ever so lucky .. my local FFL is not heavily into handguns, his brother neither .. they just ask what I want and get it! Or - ask me an opinion on stuff - which I answer if I can and say so if I can't.

Another store a bit further way - same thing .. they'll never offer advice unless asked and there is usually one guy out of three or four who can give useful info.

But - pushing info - the ego deal ..... instant turn-off. About face and leave shop .... they'll not have my business.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Then I ask to speak to their manager.

Amen—although plenty of people are working without adult supervision.

 

[HSMITH]

Pards, I have the inside skinny, and got it by (hang my head) buying a gun at Gander last week. It seems that the employee scheduled to work guns for that shift is THE MAN for that shift. He controls prices on trade-in and buy guns, and he is the authority. What he pays for a trade plus an as yet undetermined markup factor (that looks like about 20-25%) is what a used gun goes under the glass for. Non-seller guns are blown out on clearance sales at regular intervals, but there is no schedule to the clearances. The guns are eventually sold at a loss when they paid way too much for them in trade or purchase.

Odds are good that the guy behind the counter is the man you have to talk to. I would ask that you POLITELY point out a faux pas quietly and ask that it not happen again LONG before asking for a manager. If the kid doesn't know that he did something wrong and you piss and moan here or to a manager how is he going to know? Explain to him what bothers you and I guarantee he will at least consider your input. Explain nicely and he will take it to heart 90%+ of the time.

I bought a like new M37 Smith for $175 LOL, the only great price I have EVER gotten on a firearm from a retail establishment!!!!! I am glad the guy that bought it was a moron, the seller/trader was a moron, and I was the first to recognize what was for sale!!!! Easily surpassing $100 off of fair market value on this gun in this area! Hooray for me, the first time I have gotten a GREAT deal in 10 years, maybe I buy too fast or something.

 

[Majic]

I typically just ask to see what I like that the shop has in their case and ignore the comments from the commandos. They usually get the message or end up just talking to themselves.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

I had a similar experience at a different gun store. First time I went, I looked at Taurus and S&W revolvers and even said we might work on the price a little. The counter guy was helpful, but I couldn't decide. Two days later I went back with money in my pocket, ready to buy one of the Taurus models. A different counter guy tells me that all Taurus are Brazian junk, but they were forced to take them because of their deal with the distributor. Then he tried to sell me every S&W in the counter, and no, we could not work any deals. I didn't make a fuss, I just left.

It worked out though. The following week a guy on another board had a Taurus 605 in excellent shape for about half of what I was willing to spend. And I'm really happy with it so far.

BTW..I haven't been back to that gun shop, but go to shop where the prices are a little higher, but they changed the grips (that I provided) on the Taurus for free. I also bought a range bag and some cleaning supplies just for being treated well.

You'd think that businesses would understand how important customer service is.

 

[Wedge]

More often than not I decide to buy something at a store that is more expensive because I get treated much better. Customer service is everything. I have a small local store that I like to buy from but they don't have the selection of the bigger stores. Generally I look around the bigger stores, get disgusted and then buy from the local guy.

 

[mfree]

"You know fella, I came in here thinking I was going to buy a nice 9mm pistol for some cheap plinking, maybe concealed carry. But you thankfully showed me the error of my ways. I definitely won't be buying a 9mm pistol now that I know it's such a pitiful round (*hand pistol back to clerk*). Thank you, have a nice day *smile and walk out*"

 

[Zach S]

I've been to places like that, once. Be sure to point out why you wont back...

 

[Wedge]

I should have just asked him which he would rather be shot with...

 

[iamhistory]

I recall putting my 2 cents in on Gander Mountain in another GM thread from about a month ago.

There are few things I'll go there for...........and NONE of them involve advice from their doofus "I work here for a number of reasons none of which are even remotely due to my knowledge and expertise regarding the outdoors because I have none" clerks.

But in fairness.......from how many chain stores these days CAN you get good service from knowledgeable people???????????????????

Wal-mart, K-mart, Lowes, chain restaurants, etc. etc...........they are all the same - no customer service (with the occasional exception), nor much care about demanding any from employees.

 

[JohnKSa]

Proper response:

I already have a Glock 22. Thanks for talking me out of buying this 9mm. See ya.

(Whether you have a Glock 22 or not.)

 

[Edmond]

A buddy of mine went to this gun shop with me. We were looking at some guns that we'd never seen before and asked the shopkeep if we could see something. This guy was standing 30 feet away from us and had his body behind a cabinet. He says to us, "Unless you guys have $600 cash, don't ask me to take nothin' out dem cases."

My buddy and I looked at each other and walked out without saying a word.

I seriously doubt that I'll ever go into a gunshop again. The ones here in Illinois are generally seedy places with high prices, a bad combination!

 

[SteveS]

I have bought 2 guns from the local Gander Mountain. Both salespeople were excellent. In one case, my wife was asking for advice and it was the first time that she wasn't steered towards the .22's and told, "this is just right for you sweetie."

Any gun store is only as good as the people they hire. I have gotten crappy service at big chain stores and little stores. It may be some new guy that doesn't know anything or the guy that has been there for 30 years and is more interested in BS'ing with his cronies than making a sale. I don't think bad service is just found at the big stores. I consider myself fairly lucky to have found a few good big stores and small stores. If I find someone that knows what they are talking about and is helpful, I usually just deal with them when I go back.

 

[tc300mag1]

Ive bought from gander not my fav place but 2 of the 3 regulars are good to deal with seems they have 3 41mag blackhawks there on tadein all like new im waiting for a blow out to come along

 

[Top_Notch]

I bought my Glock from Gander. Decent transaction, but they weren't the most helpful.

I went down the road to Gaylans, a sporting goods place. The guy who runs the gun counter was very helpful. He tracked down the specific model of gun which I wanted to buy. The price was more than $100 less than Gander and took only 5 days (3 day waiting period anyway here in IL). Nice as pie and always kept me informed of what was occuring. Now that I mention him, I'll have to go back...time for another one.

 

[smokemaker]

I had a gunstore dimwit hand me a pistola muzzle first once when I lived in ND, where I could get away with the reply I gave the twirp, which was along the lines of: "Hey buddy, you just pointed a gun at me. In my world that ain't a good thing, and if I we're carrying my .38 right now I'd a likely perferated you until my gun went click-click-click." Now I live int the Peoples' Republic, where that statement would've probably landed me in jail. I miss North-by-God-Dakota sometimes. Here I just walk away from the dimwits, and I'm sure to say real loud that the service sucks, and I ain't ever coming back.

 

[redneck2]

Having worked in a gun store

you have idiots and fools on both sides of the counter

My local Gander Mountain in Merrillville has guys that have "been there and done that"...

Ray has forgotten more about guns than most guys here will ever know. It's luck of the draw as far as talent goes. Some are great and some others aren't quite so good

Instead of blaming the store, blame the individual. Then again, you'd better have your own ducks in a row. I've heard guys walking away muttering about "that old man".

Pal, he's the one that's taken 90% of the heads that are hanging on the wall. He just doesn't have a lot of time for some of the drugstore cowboys that waste his time. If he tells you something, take it to the bank.